Chair with pivoted back



July 24, 1956 A. c. HOVEN ET AL CHAIR WITH FIVOTED BACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 18, 1955 INVENTOR W fi a Z w Aw BY WfiraW ATTORNEY y 4, 1956 A. c. HOVEN ET AL CHAIR WITH PIVOTED BACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 led May 18, 1955 INVENTOR5 Alfred C. jfo lien Vii/fer .E.N0z-dma r12 ATTORNEY United States Patent O CHAIR WITH PIVOTED BACK Alfred 'C. Hoven and Walter E. Nordmark, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignors to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 18,1955, Serial No. 509,182

10 Claims. (Cl. 155-156) The present invention relates to chairs.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a chair in which the chair back rest is pivoted on upright supports connected to the chair frame, so that the back rest or panel will automatically adjust itself as to tilt according to the physical characteristics and the posture of the occupant; and to provide such a chair which is simple and sturdy in construction, reasonably economical in manufacture and attractive in appearance.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a chair, the back panel of which is mounted according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of parts of the chair, a portion of the casing for the back mounting being broken away to reveal parts inside the casing;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken on lines 33 of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of parts of the chair shown partly in rear elevation and partly in section taken on line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing a modified form of construction;

Figure 6 is a view of said modified construction shown partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view of said modified construction taken on lines 7-7 of Figures 5 and 6.

Referring now in detail to these drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals in the several views, and referring first particularly to Figures 1 through 4, the chair there shown generally comprises a metal supporting frame or structure including chair legs 10 and spaced upright back supports 11 of metal tubing, and a chair seat 12 mounted on the frame and a chair back rest or panel 13 of plywood or the like mounted on the upper ends of the back supports 11 of the frame. The present invention consists of a novel pivotal mounting for the back panel 13 on the back supports 11 so that the back panel is free to tilt and thus adjust itself to the requirements and preferences of the chair occupant.

The upper end portions of the tubular metal back supports 11 are provided with horizontally aligned pinreceiving apertures through their inner and outer side walls and a pin 14 extends between these back supports and through the apertures and has its opposite ends 15 riveted against the outside side walls of the back supports. An elongated, rearwardly bowed sheet metal mounting plate 16 is disposed forwardly of the pin 14 and is provided with a pair of rearwardly struck bearing lugs 17 which are journalled on the pin 14 adjacent the inside side walls of the back supports 11. The rearwardly bowed back panel 13 is disposed adjacent the front surface of the mounting plate 16.

A forwardly opening cupped sheet metal casing 18 completely encloses the upper ends of the back supports 11, the pin 14 and the mounting plate 16. The casing 18 2,755,8'44 Patented July 24, 1956 has its forwardly extending peripheral wall fitted to the peripheral contour of the mounting plate 16 and abutting the rear surface of the back panel 13. An attachment plate 19 of formed sheet metal has a medial rear portion conforming in shape to that of the inside rear wall of the casing 18 and secured thereto by spot welding so that the connection between these members does not show after the casing is coated on the exterior with finishing material. The side portions of the attachment plate 19 extend outwardly beyond the back supports 11 and then forwardly and finally terminate in end flanges disposed adjacent the rear surface of the mounting plate 16. v

The parts are all secured together in the final assembly of the chair by means of blind rivets 20 which are passed rearwardly through aligned apertures in the back panel 13, in the mounting plate 16 and in the end portions of the attachment plate 19, and are then blindriveted against the rear surfaces of said end portions of the attachment plate 19. The casing 18 and attachment plate 19 have registering voids through which the back supports 11 pass downwardly out of the casing.

A moderate friction is desirable for maintaining the back panel 13 in any turned position relative to the back supports 11, such friction being provided by a friction element 21 disposed in an opening 22 through the middle of the mounting plate 16 and squeezed between the pin 14 and the rear surface of the back panel 13 in the final assembly of these parts.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Figures 5-7 the attachment plate has been eliminated. In this embodiment of the invention, each of the opposite ends of the pin 23 passes through a bearing lug 24, through the adjacent back support 25 and through a rearwardly open lug 26, both lugs 24 and 26 being struck rearwardly from the mounting plate 27 which is secured directly to the rear surface of the back panel 28 by means of ordinary rivets 29. The mounting plate 27 here shown has a rearwardly ofiset portion 30 along, its upper middle edge which provides a recess between the back panel and the mounting plate. A tongue 31 extends rearwardly from the mounting plate 27 at said plates lower middle edge and has a screw-threaded aperture therethrough. The casing 32 is secured directly to the mounting plate 27 by means of a flange 33 depending from the casings upper forward edge and engaging in the recess between the mounting plate and the back panel, and by means of a screw 34 which is passed upwardly through an aperture in the lower middle wall of the casing 32 and is threaded into the mounting plate?s tongue 31.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a chair with a pivotal mounting for the back panel which is simple in construction and at the same time sturdy and attractive in appearance, and while but two specific embodiments of the invention have been herein shown and described it will be understood that numerous details thereof may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is defined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a chair: spaced upright back supports; a pin mounted on the upper end portions of said back supports and extending horizontally therebetween; a mounting plate disposed forwardly of said pin and having a pair of rearwardly extending bearing lugs journalled on the pin; and a back panel secured to the mounting plate adjacent its front surface and swingable with the mounting plate about said pin between substantially vertical and upwardly-rearwardly inclined positions.

2. A chair according to claim 1 characterized by having a forwardly opening cupped casing completely enclosing the upper ends of the back supports, the pin and the mounting plate and having its forwardly extending wall fitted to the peripheral contour of said mounting plate and abutting the rear surface of the back panel.

3. A chair according to claim 2 characterized by having the back panel and the mounting, member rearwardly bowed.

4. A chair according to claim 2 characterized by having anattachment plate provided with a medial portion secured to the inside rear wall of the casing and side portions extending outwardly beyond the back supports and then forwardly and finally terminating in end flanges disposed adjacent the rear surface of the mounting plate; and fastening means passing through the back panel, through the mounting plate and through said end. flanges.

5. A chair according to claim 4 characterized by having an opening-through the middle of the mounting plate and a friction element disposed in said opening and squeezed between the pin and the rear of the back panel in the final assembly of the parts.

6. A chair according to claim 2 characterized by said mounting plates having a rearwardly offset portion forming a recess between the back panel and the mounting plate along the latters upper middle edge and having a rearwardly extending tongue at its lower middle edge; and by said casings having a retaining flange depending from its upper forward edge and engaging in said recess; and fastening means passing upwardly through the lower middle portion of the casing and into the tongue at the mounting plates lower middle edge.

7. In a chair: spaced, upright tubular metal back supports provided with horizontally aligned pin-receiving apertures in the side walls of their upper end portions; a pin extending between said back supports and through said apertures and having its opposite ends riveted against the outside side walls of said back supports; a rearwardly bowed mounting platedisposed forwardly of said pin and provided with a pair of rearwardlyextending bearing lugs journalled on the pin adjacent the inside walls of the back supports; a rearwardly' bowed back panel disposed adjacent the front surface of the mounting plate; a forwardly opening cupped casing completely enclosing the upper ends of the back supports, the pin and the mounting plate and having its forwardly extending peripheral wall fitted to the peripheral contour of said mounting plate and abutting the rear surface of the back panel; an attachment plate having a medial rear portion secured to the inside rear Wall of the casing and side portions extending outwardly beyond the back. supports and. then forwardly and finally terminating in end flanges disposed adjacent the rear surface of the mounting plate; and fastening means passing rearwardly through the back panel, through the mounting plate and through said end flanges.

8. A chair according to claim 7 characterized by having the casing and the attachment plate fabricated of sheet metal and spot welded together; and by having said fastening means consisting of blind rivets passed rearwardly through the back panel, the mounting plate and the end flanges and blind riveted against the rear surfaces of said end flanges.

9. In a chair: spaced upright tubular metal back supports provided with horizontally aligned pin-receiving apertures in the sidewalls of their upper end portions; a pin extending between said 'back supports and through said apertures; a rearwardly bowed mounting plate disposed forwardly of said pin and provided with a pair of rearwardly extending bearing lugs journalled on the pin adjacent the inside side walls of the back supports and with another pair of lugs extending rearwardly adjacent the outside side walls of said back supports; a rearwardly bowed back panel disposed adjacent the front surface of the mounting plate; fastening means passing through the back panel and through the side portions of the mounting plate, said mounting plate having a rearwardly offset portion forming a recess between the back panel and the mounting plate along the lattersupper middle edge, and said mounting plate having arearwardly extending tongue at its lower middle edge; a forwardly opening cupped casing completely enclosing the upper ends of the back supports, the pin and the mounting plate and having its forwardly extending peripheral wall fitted to the peripheral contour of said mounting plate. and abutting the rear surface of the back panel,v said casing having a retaining flange depending from its upper forward edge and engaging in the recess at the mounting plates' upper middle edge; and a screw passing upwardly through the lower middle wall of the casing and threaded into the tongue at the mounting plates lower middle. edge.

10. A chair according to. claim 9 characterized by having the ends of the pin extending outwardly beyond the outside side walls of the back. supports and into proximity with the side walls of the casing whereby the pin is con.- fined in position by said side wallsof' the casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 570,208 Harry Oct. 27, 1896 1,769,294 Johnson et a1 July 1', 1930 2,114,920 Gabb Apr.. 19, 1938 2,524,624 Crarner Oct. 3, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 476,944 Great Britain Dec..20, 1937 589,731 Great Britain June 27, 1947 

